Category: Sermon Notes

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  The Way to Peace

Scripture: John 14:15-31

I.   THE PROMISED LEGACY

Jesus is giving them 4 truths which quiet the heart:

1. Personal faith in a personal God bring (personal strength). [v.1]
2. While preparing a place for us, Christ is preparing us for that place. [v.2-4]
3. The (sovereign) hand of God is at work. [7-11]
4. Greater things occur when we pray in Jesus’ name, that the Father may be glorified. [12-14]

Two more thoughts from verses 16-20:

1. You are not alone; you have an (inward helper). [16-18]
2. Your life is (inseparably linked) to Christ Himself. [19-20]

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [Gal.2:20]

II.  THE PROMISED RESULTS

Primarily, peace in the NT has to do with a person’s standing (before God).

Peace is the antidote to (fear).

How do we get this peace? How do we overcome fear?

1. By (depending) on the person of the Holy Spirit. [25-26] “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is not lie-just as it has taught you, abide in Him.” I John 2:27
2. By claiming the (peace) of Jesus Christ. [27]
3. By accepting the (plan) for the future. [28-29]
4. By following the (pattern of obedience). [30-31]

Some practical suggestions if floundering and missing peace:

1) Acknowledge Jesus Christ and His Spirit as your source of power.
2) Begin your day with prayer and claim His peace.
3) Correct any habits of pessimism by spending time in the Word.
4) Devote yourself to obedience.

NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Lifestyle

Text: Matthew 5:13-16; 6:1-4

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  The Way to Forever

Scripture: John 11

“All great Christians have been wounded souls.” Tozer

“The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places.” Hemingway  We can safely say “Every one of us broken by God, and it is in those broken places where we are strong.”

I.   THE BACKSTORY

Jesus raised Lazarus to life, not to restore him to life, or to comfort his grieving sisters, but that He and His Father would be glorified.

“This sickness does not lead to death” is another way of saying, “This sickness will not end in death.” This may be the most important statement in the whole story.

Everything that takes place after that statement is just one opportunity after another for the life and love and goodness of the Father to be experienced, embraced, and believed.

II.   THE ENCOUNTER                  

What was Jesus saying when He said this illness will not lead to death? Was not saying Lazarus would not die. He was saying death would not be ultimate outcome.

It is never easy understanding God’s way of doing things. We wonder, like Mary and Martha, why Jesus didn’t come sooner, especially when He claims a deep love for this family.

Mary and Martha could only see (the immediate). What they would soon learn is you can’t have a resurrection without (a death). You cannot know the transforming triumph of Christ without a (crisis).

Jesus wept. Why?

1) Jesus weeps with those who weep.
2) Jesus weeps for the condition of humanity.

We celebrate today what Paul writes in I Cor.15: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

NEXT WEEK:   Title: The Way to Peace

Text: John 14:15-31

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  The Way of the Towel

Scripture: John 13: 1-7

 I.  HUMILITY ILLUSTRATED

True or False: “You cannot love with humility; you cannot have humility without love.”

“I would say humility is not an act of submission. It is not lowering yourself.” (A non-follower of Jesus)

“You cannot have love without submission. Humility is an act of submission. It is lowering yourself to others. I believe this is the love Jesus wants us to have more than anything…selfishness is not in line with humility or love.” (A follower of Jesus)

Matthew 23:11- “the greatest among you shall be your servant.”

II.  HUMILITY DISCUSSED                 

4 characteristics of humility in verses 4-12:

1)     Humility is (unannounced).  See Matthew 23:6-12

2)     Humility is willing to receive- (without embarrassment).

3)     Humility is not a sign of (weakness).

4)     Humility does not play (favorites).

A few last words from Jesus:

1.  Humility includes (serving others), not just the Lord.

2.  Happiness results from (demonstrating) humility, not just (learning) about it.

NEXT WEEK:   Easter at the Tivoli

Title: The Way to Forever

Text: John 11

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  A Look Ahead (John)

Scripture: John 20:30-31; 21:25

Down through the ages biblical scholars have depicted the gospels as animals.

• Matthew is a (lion), representing the kingdoms of Jesus
• Mark is an (ox), showing the servanthood of Jesus.
• Luke is a (man), revealing the humanity of Jesus.
• John is an (eagle), because can look into sun and not be dazzled.

I.    MEET THE AUTHOR         

The gospel of John is the most (intimate) of the four. It is an eyewitness account of Jesus, the (Lamb of God).

The author is accepted to be John:

1. The author was a (Jew).
2. The author was a (Palestinian) Jew.
3. The author was an (eyewitness).
4. The author was an (aposte).
5. The author was the (Apostle John).

Matthew wrote to the Jews. Mark wrote to the Romans. Luke wrote to the Gentiles. John’s target audience was (everyone).

II.   MEET THE INCIDENTALS                

Several characteristics of John:

1)     It is simple yet (profound).

2)     It is filled with (analogies).

3)     It is filled with (unique) material.

4)     It also has (omitted) material.

Two main themes emerge from this gospel:

1. The Deity of Christ. To reinforce this truth, John is home to 7 signs:

1)     Turning water to wine

2)     Healing the nobleman’s son

3)     Healing the paralytic

4)     Feeding the 5000

5)     Walking on water

6)     Healing a man born blind

7)     Resurrection of Lazarus

2. Belief in Christ

A Quick Outline of John:

• Introduction and Summary (1:1-18)
• The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (1:19-4:54)
• The Growing Opposition (5-12)
• Discourse with His Disciples (13-17)
• Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion (18-19)
• Resurrection and Reappearance (20-21)

NEXT WEEK:   Rob Grandi speaking

Title: What Jesus Knew

SERIES: The Great Adventure: One Way Love

TITLE:  Ruining a Dinner Party

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

I.    THE REPUTATION        

Two main thrusts appear in this story:

1. The transformed life of the sinful woman
2. Jesus evangelizing the Pharisee

There are several back stories here:

1. Social mores of the Near East.
2. The reputation of the sinful woman and her act of worship.

What was she thinking? She was a (sinner); He a (rabbi). Jesus was her (last hope).  But grace begins where (pride ends). When we are broken and admit we are, (God is there).

II.   THE RESTORATION            

This woman’s act offended Simon because he was (overly prudish) or (hyper-religious). But there is a bigger reason: grace offends because it is (offensive).  Grace does not depend on the (loveliness) of the other person.

What about Simon?

1. Why did he invite Jesus to his house?
2. Simon’s life was to be set on its ear by his (encounter with Jesus).
3. The real miracle is Jesus had a love for this (self-righteous hypocrite)..

One of the hardest things for us to wrap our minds and heart around is the (unconditional love) of God.

NEXT WEEK:   TGA

Title: A Look Ahead

Scripture: john 20:30-31; 21:25

SERIES: The Great Adventure: One Way Love

TITLE:  Hugging a Cactus

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

I.   MEET ZACCHAEUS

“This is one of the most jaw-dropping instances of one-way love in the entire Bible.” Tullian Tchividjian

What do we know about Zacchaeus?

1. He was a (tax-collector).
2. He was in the employ of (Rome).
3. His wealth came from selling out his (family and friends) to Rome.
4. To the Jewish Mishnah, Z was not even a (person).

II.   ZACCHAEUS MEET JESUS

Jesus singled him out.  How?

1. Jesus called him (by name).
2. Jesus paid him the highest compliment by wanting to go (to his home).
3. Jesus wanted to talk (privately).

Z’s joyful charity was not the preface to God’s grace- it was (the result).  Obedience is really a weak word when it comes to Z’s extravagance. This is what some might call (extravagant and graceful) giving.

A grateful heart is a (generous) heart, and a generous heart is a (liberated) heart.

A couple thoughts (from Gospel by J.D. Greear0

1)     The law produces (Pharisees); the gospel produces (Christians).

2)     We are not transformed by a (command) of Jesus, but by an (experience) with Him.

NEXT WEEK:   TGA: One Way Love

Title: Ruining a Dinner Party

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

SERIES: The Great Adventure: One Way Love

TITLE:  A Look Ahead (Overview of Luke)

Scripture: Various Scriptures in Luke

I.    MEET THE DOCTOR       

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is pictured as the (compassionate) Son of Man who came to “seek and save the lost.”

Luke’s gospel is known as the gospel of (the underdog).

Who is Luke?

1. Paul calls him (the beloved physician).

2. According to Col.4:11, he was probably a (Gentile).

3. The first reference to Luke in Acts is 16:10 with the word (we).

4. Luke writes his gospel and Acts to Theophilus which means (friend of God).

    

II.   SEE HIS ANALYSIS            

Why did he write the gospel?  Luke 1:4

Who was his audience?  Matthew wrote to the Jews. Mark wrote to the Romans. Luke wrote to the (Gentiles).

There are two major themes which run their way through the book;

1. Jesus’ Humanity

2. Jesus’ love for the people.

Pretty easy outline to see;

1. Jesus Introduced (1:1-4:13)

2. Jesus is “Mighty in Deed” (4:14-9:50)

3. Jesus is “Mighty in Word” (9:51-21:38

4. Jesus is Crucified and Resurrected (22-24)

NEXT WEEK:   TGA: One Way Love

Title: Hugging a Cactus

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  Love Speaks Through Liberation

Scripture: Mark 5: 1-20

I.    MISERY LOVES COMPANY       

Can’t really call this man’s existence a life. Let’s break it down:

1)     Matthew 8 records this same event, but mentions two.

2)     This man had an unclean spirit.  This man was not a maniac, he was a (demoniac). By unclean spirit it is probably referring to the demon (controlling) him.

3)     He lives among the tombs. They were (burial chambers) carved out of rock hillsides on the outskirts of town.

4)     We are told no one could bind him.

5)     We are given a further description of his normal activity. (Crying out – means a continual unearthly scream uttered with intense emotion.)

His name is (Legion).  That was a Latin word which defined a Roman army unit of 6000 infantrymen.

II.   FREEDOM LOVES COMPANY           

Who were the herdsmen?

What were they fearful of?

What was it the former demoniac wanted?

What was he told to do?

NEXT WEEK:   TGA: One Way Love

Title: A Look Ahead (Overview of Luke)

Scripture: Various Scriptures in Luke

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  Love Speaks Through Reaching Out

Scripture: Mark 4: 21-32

**IF YOU’RE NOT DOING, THEN YOU’RE NOT (LOVING). LOVE DOES!**

I.    Three Parables

A.  The Lamp on a Stand

-What was HIDDEN has been made (OPEN). The LIGHT reveals the (TRUTH).

The light’s job is to (convict, clean, purify and align) us with the truth and character of Jesus.

Once it’s shining in you, (let it shine) on those around you!

B.  The Growing Seed

-(Only God) can cause the seed to grow.

Are you producing fruit? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,           faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?

As we are in Christ, we are to become (farmers) who sow seed…the message and love of Jesus.

C.  The Mustard Seed

-The kingdom and family of God is (growing).

A little faith goes a long way! Faith is multiplying, and God’s family is expanding.

II. Reaching Out in Love

“Love is not patronizing and charity isn’t about pity; it is about love. Charity and love are the                same–with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand.”

-Mother Teresa

How can we reach out?

1.  Be (Intentional): It is impossible to reach out (passively)!

2.  Meet a (Need): See the need. Move with compassion.

3.  Shine the light and sow the seed!

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  Love Speaks Through Friendship

Scripture: Mark 2: 1-12

I.    FRIENDSHIP ABOVE AND BEYOND      

Mark is master of (time gaps).  Jesus leaves in (triumph); He returns under (suspicion).

Jesus focuses the people right where they need to be. What was Jesus impressed with? (the faith of the friends).

It is not easy (trusting others).

II.   FORGIVENESS ABOVE AND BEYOND          

What did Jesus tell the man on the cot?  (You are healed) or (Your sins are forgiven)?

Why was that so significant?  Many Jews in that day believed all (disease and affliction) were a direct result of one man’s (sins).

Who was in the crowd? (Scribes).  Also mentioned in Mark 1:22. Their teaching was not in the spoken word of God, but more in the (traditions) passed down by other rabbis.

Jesus called him “son.”  It literally means “child.” The implication is Jesus first claimed a (relationship) with him-one of love and caring. The second he claimed was the ability to (forgive his sins).

The Greek verb for “are forgiven” refers to sending or driving away.

NEXT WEEK:   TGA: Love Speaks

Title: Love Speaks Through Reaching Out

Scripture: Mark